Refugees left their homes with only the belonging they could carry Credit: Toby Nash/ITV News

Britain and the US have made a number of airdrops in the last week, delivering much-needed humanitarian supplies to the mountainous region.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said her department was "stepping up its work with charities across northern Iraq where nearly 1.5 million people have fled their homes in recent months.

“Our support is helping hundreds of thousands of Iraqis get the food, water and sanitation they desperately need.”